3. Statement by the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales: Tata Steel

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:59 pm on 17 November 2020.

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Photo of Ken Skates Ken Skates Labour 3:59, 17 November 2020

Can I thank Jack Sargeant for his questions, and can I just recognise, put on record, my thanks to Jack Sargeant for the enormous amount of work that he's done in supporting the Shotton Tata facility in developing the plans for a logistics hub? And my officials have been working with Tata Shotton in developing that master plan, but I know how much work Jack has contributed to this particular agenda, and I thank him for it. I'm also grateful for the acknowledgement of the support that Welsh Government has given to Tata over many years, and I would say that, looking to the future, let's describe this as an opportunity for the UK Government to demonstrate—very soon, actually—that it is fully committed to levelling up the UK, by providing that vital support that Tata require in order to undergo the transformation that it wishes to proceed with, and to ensure that it becomes more competitive.

In terms of what could be produced at the Shotton site, well, we know that its products are amongst the highest quality in the market, and that they're already contributing to energy efficiency schemes, particularly in the construction centre. But, obviously, given the recyclability of steel, it will become an even more prominent feature of our aspiration to reuse and to renew as we seek a green recovery. So, I am in no doubt that the 760 employees at the Shotton site can feel proud and can feel optimistic that they will be contributing, as an industry of tomorrow, to a greener economy.